Page 106 of Stupid Matchmaking Love

Excited to see you win the competition, Kitty Kat. Mom’s COPD isn’t getting better. We’re rooting for you.

Yeah, I’m sure you are.

I delete the message, the usual chest tightness gone. Rhett has changed something in me. Glen’s words don’t stick anymore.

Speaking of Rhett . . . sometimes he drops lunch off at the spa. Usually a salad, followed by a bowl of strawberries. Or if I skip breakfast because I have an early client, I’ll arrive at work and there’ll be a to-go cup of coffee waiting for me.

All from him, and all of it warming my heart more and more.

We spend our evenings catching up, taking Flame to dinner with us, waving to other contestants if we see them out, wondering what the next challenge will be. There are three left, and the rumor mill is that the last one will be a doozy.

But it doesn’t scare me—not now. Not anymore. Rhett and I are in the lead, and I plan to keep things that way.

“You have a message,” Derek says with an eye roll one afternoon.

Even Derek isn’t getting to me anymore. “Where is it?”

With a sharp flick of his hand, he produces an envelope. Even before I open it, I know it’s from Rhett.

Hey beautiful, just wanted to let you know I’m thinking about you.

I press it to my heart and sigh.

“Is that from Rhett?” Maya asks, coming from around the corner.

“It is.”

“Oh my gosh. He’s sending you notes? What’s it say?”

I hold it out for her to read, and she sighs dramatically. “That man is so in love with you.”

In love with me? He likes me and I like him. But is it . . . Could it be love?

Derek rolls his eyes. “Blah, blah, blah, all you two talk about is that stupid matchmaking competition.”

I click my tongue. “It’s not our fault we’re happy. Right, Maya?”

She nods. “So happy. Logan’s taking me away this weekend. He says we need a break before the final challenges come up.”

While I squeal with happiness that they’re going away, Derek scoffs. “Do you two really think your relationships are real? Matched by a quilt? You’re joking, right?”

He swivels around in his chair, turning to face the spa’s front door.

I grab hold of the back of the chair and swivel him around to face us. His shocked expression is priceless.

“Listen, just because you’re unhappy doesn’t mean you need to shower us with misery. Maya’s happy. Let her be happy without commentary. You never know, Derek—if you put your name in next year, you might be matched with the love of your life.”

“Yeah, and maybe you won’t be so miserable anymore,” Maya adds.

Derek tosses his head, flipping his bangs from his eyes. “I’m not miserable,” he snaps.

Maya and I exchange a look.

“I’m not.”

Words I’ve been wanting to say since the day the spa opened surge up my throat. I’m not sure if it’s confidence, lack of caring, or just plain I have no more fucks to give, but my lips part and it all comes out.

“Ever since we opened, you haven’t smiled once,” I tell him. “You tossed the Bitty Being I gave you into the garbage.”